Setting Up The Carnival
"Am I intruding, your majesty?" Jane asked.
"No, Jane," Caradoc answered. "you are not intruding at all!"
Renee turned to the knight in training.
"I want to thank you for introducing us to King Caradoc, he is a kind and just person." Renee said.
"You're welcome, Renee, yes, the king is indeed kind and just." Jane said.
"And this land of yours is quite remarkable." Renee said to Jane.
"We're really quite proud of our kingdom, and we look forward to having you here." Jane said to Renee.
The next morning, Jane and Gunther were out in the practice yard dueling with staves.
"Gunther," Jane asked, parrying an attack. "are you going to the show tonight?"
"I was considering it," Gunther said, blocking a shot from Jane. "but you know what people are saying about those romani."
"It's the same old nonsense about them," Jane scoffed in disgust. "don't listen to rumors and idle gossip! Those courtiers will believe anything as long as it's scandalous!"
In one more move, Jane dropped to one knee, ducking Gunther's attack, swinging her stave at the same time, and catching him in the back of the knee knocking him down.
"I get your point!" Gunther chuckled as he hit the ground.
Jane offered her hand to help Gunther to his feet.
Gunther took Jane's hand and she pulled him up.
Over on the carnival grounds, Conan and Aida were pitching the costume tent which was the final tent to set up.
"Well, in spite of the problems we've run into, the show is ready." Conan said.
"Yeah," Aida nodded. "just tell Janos to make sure the tumblers have enough room this time, we don't need another acrobat landing in the cider barrel like during our last visit!"
"The king wasn't mad," Conan said chuckling. "if that's what your worried about, he thought it was hilarious!"
"I know," Aida said. "the problem was that everyone there, including our own performers, were laughing so hard that it was a full twenty minutes before we got the giggles under control and could go on with the show, besides it's not fair to upstage our clowns like that!"
Conan laughed, "Maybe you're right! Come on, we'd better get changed, the show starts soon." he said.
Aida and Conan went into the costume tent to change for the show.
Back at Kippernia castle, Jane was in her tower getting ready for the show.
When a knock sounded on her door.
"Come in!" Jane called.
Jane's father, Milton Turnkey entered his daughter's bedroom with her mother by his side.
Lady Adeline carried the family's 6-monnth-old twins, Jedidiah and Victoria in her arms.
"Jane," Adeline said. "Father and I need you to mind the twins while we help the king and queen get ready to go to the carnival."
